I tweaked my neck pretty good this morning which I'm sure I'll be feeling for a few days.

Anyone know of any good NE dallas gyms? Been wanting to try this out.

live in Rockwall.

i trained too hard yesterday as well, and as a result couldn't train today. But I did see some nice MMA BJJ watching the LFA flyweight title fight Sanchez v Rivera fight tonight. Great display of defense (Rivera) and pressure takedowns and transitions by Sanchez.

Glad this thread popped up! I recently earned my blue belt after ~16 months in. Just when you start thinking you know something, you realize you know nothing.

Love BJJ. As others have said, I started just as an alternative to working out at a gym. I love it, look forward to every class. I find it's a great release and a way to decompress after work.

Congrats on earning your blue belt!! Enjoy the training and the growth that comes during the blue belt path/journey. But just remember now all those white belts are gonna be aiming at ya' even more!! Kidding...

Whereabouts do you train?

Quote:

---

But just remember now all those white belts are gonna be aiming at ya' even more!! Kidding...

---

White belts are the most dangerous. They see a colored belt and are either intimidated or think they have something to prove. Unless I've rolled with you a little bit I'm going to defense the s*** out of you to protect myself from getting hurt.

Sweep4-2 said:

---

Congrats on earning your blue belt!! Enjoy the training and the growth that comes during the blue belt path/journey. But just remember now all those white belts are gonna be aiming at ya' even more!! Kidding...

Whereabouts do you train?

---

This is so true... I don't know what I was thinking, but I guess I expected things to get a bit easier when I was promoted to Blue. I could not have been more wrong... all the upper belts who took it easy on you when you were a white belt are now out to kick your ass (and they expect to win)... and all the white belts want to make the blue belt tap. It's way harder than white belt!

Agree, blue is tough for the reasons you mention. And it's probably something all blue belts experience (I definitely did).

The biggest thing that helped me break through the wall was rolling as much as possible with upper belts. I went months without submitting anyone (felt like) but my game got back on track.

I train at BTT in north Austin.

I definitely agree about blue being tougher than white... I had this weird thought that no white belt would tap me now that I am blue. Well, that changed the first day. It's not a magic belt hahaha.

There are some very big, strong dudes at my gym (white belts) and my technique is still not sharp enough to overcome a big weight / strength discrepancy.

I do see blue being a very fun time. I've got the basics down, and learning now how to adapt to situations, escape to better positions, and slicker transitions.

E.KingTrill said:

---

I train at BTT in north Austin.

---

Fernando used to train at our gym. Great guy... even though he is a socialist.

chipotle said:

---

E.KingTrill said:

---

I train at BTT in north Austin.

---

Fernando used to train at our gym. Great guy... even though he is a socialist.

---

Ha! I love Fernando. He's a great teacher - just got his black belt recently!

I posted this in the Metroplex forum... seeing if I can get any traction here.
"Any recommendations for a quality MMA gym in the burbs of Frisco, Plano, TC, Carrollton area? I'm not looking for new and polished. What I do want is a top quality instructor and a place to work."

Trained tonight after almost 2 weeks off. Had forgotten what it was like to walk around without any aches or bruises! Was good to be back on the mats though.

Anyone know of a place in BCS to train?

Anyone know of a place to train for a newbie in New Braunfels or San Marcos?

I have a buddy (also an Ag) that lives in the woodlands and does BJJ at Brazilian Top Team. Also you can't go wrong with Gracie Barra.

If you were open to venturing farther into town, I've been doing Muay Thai at Midtown MMA Houston for almost 5 yrs now. They have a growing BJJ team there and I've know the owner for a long time now.

Fairly old thread, but I was wondering if anyone trains in The Woodlands/Conroe area. I'm on the older side (32) but thanks to pressure from friends, Joe Rogan and Jocko Willink, I think I'm going to find a gym and start training.

No recommendation on schools in the area, but definitely start training. You won't regret it.

bigcat22 said:

---

Fairly old thread, but I was wondering if anyone trains in The Woodlands/Conroe area. I'm on the older side (32) but thanks to pressure from friends, Joe Rogan and Jocko Willink, I think I'm going to find a gym and start training.

---

Gracie Barra Woodlands and Gracie Humaita in Conroe both have a good reputation.

Every gym is going to have a different culture. Most places will let you try a couple of classes for free. I highly recommend checking out at least 2 schools before signing up.

If Kingwood is an option for you, Elite MMA (where I train) has a Kingwood location that is top notch.

32 isn't too old... I'm a 38 year old purple belt. Started at 34.

Great advice from the posters above . Question for you: what's your main interest in training BJJ? (Fitness, self defense, competition, camaraderie, all of the above, etc.)? Reason I ask is because different gyms focus on different aspects of the sport, and knowing what you're looking for will help you decide if the "fit" is right.

In terms of gyms, recommend you try a number of places and see which curriculum you like best, and which place makes you feel most welcome (and likely to want to train regularly at). I'm partial to Gracie Barra having trained at GB Texas (Webster) and GB Pearland for the past 11 years, and know a few guys up at GB Woodlands (nice guys).

As far as age, 32 is young! I started at 36 and and have been a brown belt for a couple years (now 47), and still enjoy every day of training!! It's a great sport, give it a try!!

Sweep4-2 said:

---

Great advice from the posters above . Question for you: what's your main interest in training BJJ? (Fitness, self defense, competition, camaraderie, all of the above, etc.)? Reason I ask is because different gyms focus on different aspects of the sport, and knowing what you're looking for will help you decide if the "fit" is right.

In terms of gyms, recommend you try a number of places and see which curriculum you like best, and which place makes you feel most welcome (and likely to want to train regularly at). I'm partial to Gracie Barra having trained at GB Texas (Webster) and GB Pearland for the past 11 years, and know a few guys up at GB Woodlands (nice guys).

As far as age, 32 is young! I started at 36 and and have been a brown belt for a couple years (now 47), and still enjoy every day of training!! It's a great sport, give it a try!!

---

I am pretty much interested for all of the above reasons, but fitness and competition are probably the main two reasons. It's good to know that 32 isn't too old, I feel like BJJ has exploded in popularity lately and most young kids are joining.

I found EnergyFIT Academy in Conroe is fairly close to me and seems to have a good reputation, but due your recommendation, I will try out a few places in the area. Really looking forward to beginning this BJJ journey and thanks everyone for all the comments and advice

I started my first class on Friday. Soreness started to set into today. I always get sore the 2nd day.

I really enjoyed it and I can't wait to get back to practice. There's just something so stress relieving about physical struggle.

I had been doing 70.3 training. I have completed two, but I hated every single minute of the training and racing.

Also looking for Muay Thai in the San Marcos region. Will travel a bit if needed.

queso1 said:

---

I started my first class on Friday. Soreness started to set into today. I always get sore the 2nd day.

I really enjoyed it and I can't wait to get back to practice. There's just something so stress relieving about physical struggle.

I had been doing 70.3 training. I have completed two, but I hated every single minute of the training and racing.

---

Just keep going.

Glad you enjoyed it, always good to see folks start the Jiu-Jitsu journey. It has its ups and downs (as all sports do), but the learning, lifestyle and sense of community among BJJ folks is great. Whereabouts do you train?

Sweep4-2 said:

---

Glad you enjoyed it, always good to see folks start the Jiu-Jitsu journey. It has its ups and downs (as all sports do), but the learning, lifestyle and sense of community among BJJ folks is great. Whereabouts do you train?

---

Brazos MMA

Very cool. I dropped in there once years ago when in town recruiting. The folks there were really nice and tough! I was a brand new purple belt at the time, and about twice as old as most of the guys there. After rolling with 5 or 6 fighters in a row (no-gi), I was toast! But it was fun.

Enjoy your training and have fun with BJJ. It's a great sport and lifestyle!

Watching the bama game and every time I see a player stiffarm i'd Want to flying arm bar and break it. That's probably a penalty though.

I've been rolling for about a month now, and while my main goal is just to survive 30 seconds at a time, I was wondering what everyone's thoughts on on gi vs no gi. I've rolled no gi a hand full of times and think I kinda prefer that to gi.

No gi, or as I like to call it "no clean gi" is a little too fast pace for me. Still fun to train from time to time.

They're apples and oranges. Gi is way more technical, and much more complex/deep. Nogi is explosive, slippery and less complex (in general). Both are fun in their own way, and to be a complete grappler its best to train both (if you have time).

If you're just starting out, you'll probably develop faster by focusing on the gi. It teaches fundamentals you just won't get doing nogi only. Plus, the gi-to-nogi transition is easier than nogi-to-gi (in my experience).

But just train both and if you have to choose, choose the one that is more fun for you.

Today was class #2 for me. Currently finding that my cardio and grip strength are wholly inadequate. During live practice, basically all I can do is do my best not to get submitted. That's expected, but still slightly frustrating. I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH MY HANDS! Seriously though, I joined because the idea of a continual learning process and evolution appeals to me. I'm excited for the journey. Going to go get my gi out of the wash now so it's ready for day #3...

Dr. Faustus said:

---

Today was class #2 for me. Currently finding that my cardio and grip strength are wholly inadequate. During live practice, basically all I can do is do my best not to get submitted. That's expected, but still slightly frustrating. I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH MY HANDS! Seriously though, I joined because the idea of a continual learning process and evolution appeals to me. I'm excited for the journey. Going to go get my gi out of the wash now so it's ready for day #3...

---

I've been training for around 5 years like DavidAg02 above and am also a 38 years old purple. If I could do one thing over, I wouldn't grab the Gi so tightly with my fingers. I feel like I have early onset arthritis in my fingers from all the tight grabbing. It might be from video games, weightlifting, climbing ropes, age, shooting, or all of the above, however I feel it might have a lot to do with BJJ.

I would recommend treating some moves in Gi like a no Gi move. An example would be cupping the head with your hand (ie necktie) instead of always going for a high cross collar grip. Just something to think about for health longevity. Clearly, learn the moves but change your approach here and there.

Soreness in your hands is normal to start off. When you learn what does and doesn't work you'll start to relax a bit. Also, don't full on grip with both hands 100% of the time. What I do is just curl my fingers to grip like a hook for more relaxed control when things aren't intense. I'll engage one hand and give the other a break and switch off periodically.